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“First, let me apologize.”
“Apologize?”
“For what I said during our last meeting. I may have gone a bit overboard.”
‘You must understand by now whose leash you’re on.’
‘Get down on your knees and grovel. If you’re brave enough to spread your legs, that’s fine—but I’ll pass. Friends shouldn’t do that, right?’
The memory of his words made Hyun-soo fidget nervously with her hands. Even recalling them now was enough to pierce her chest. She stared at Guk blankly.
Guk took another sip of coffee and gently placed the cup back down. His movements were calm and elegant. Was he really sorry? The thought suddenly crossed her mind.
“What do I need to do?”
At Hyun-soo’s cautious question, Guk turned to look at her.
“It’s simple. Just keep an eye on Han for me.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah. That’s all.”
Hyun-soo looked confused.
“So if I watch over Han...?”
“I’ll make Kim Hyun-seo the main artist for this upcoming project. There will also be collaborations with our company’s F&B brands, and financial support will continue as well. No need to worry about that.”
“...”
“Of course, I’ll make sure your salary isn’t lacking either.”
“No, it’s not about the money—”
“Don’t avoid talking about money. It’s the most important thing. Why would we skip it?”
“...”
His sharp response left Hyun-soo feeling slightly embarrassed. She wasn’t doing this for the money, but asking him to recognize her sincerity felt greedy somehow. Instead, she fiddled awkwardly with the hem of her skirt.
“Don’t say you’re not interested in money. People who claim they don’t care about it are usually the ones obsessed with it.”
“I just...”
“Money is the cleanest means in the world. From now on, discussions between us won’t exclude it. Besides, what else is there to talk about? Isn’t that right?”
“...Yeah.”
Guk leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs. His unreadable expression and icy gaze unintentionally intimidated her.
“Han has attempted suicide three times.”
“What?”
“Two of those attempts were genuinely dangerous.”
Hyun-soo’s eyes widened in shock.
“You understand why I’m assigning you to stay close to him, right? Make sure he doesn’t do anything reckless. That’s all you need to do.”
Suddenly, Hyun-soo felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on her. She had impulsively accepted his offer without fully considering what it entailed, and now she realized how significant this task truly was.
Could she really handle it? Amid her doubts, one question surfaced.
“But why me specifically...?”
At that, Guk exhaled deeply, almost like a sigh, and chuckled faintly. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest.
“Well, why do you think?”
“...”
“Han has been looking for you.”
“Han has been looking for me?”
“Yes. I was curious about it too. Did something special happen between you two while I wasn’t paying attention?”
For a fleeting moment, she wondered if his gaze had turned colder—or was that just her imagination? Her neck stiffened, and she swallowed nervously before speaking.
“I... I don’t know why he’s looking for me.”
Guk stared intently at her, trying to gauge her sincerity.
“Really? You truly don’t know?”
“Yeah. Let’s assume that’s true.”
Finally breaking eye contact, Guk lifted his teacup and took another sip. He resumed his composed demeanor.
“There are only three things you need to focus on from now on. First, ensure Han stays safe. Second, report everything related to Han directly to me. Third, obey my instructions no matter what.”
The word ‘obey’ made Hyun-soo flinch. Something about it unsettled her, but she had no choice. Beyond Hyun-seo’s project and future, Hyun-soo carried her own emotional burdens.
Slowly, she nodded.
“Go up to the 38th floor.”
With that, Yoon Guk handed her a keycard—a sleek card in muted tones. On it was written “3803.”
“Now?”
“Han left home two weeks ago and has been holed up here. Send him back home.”
“Me? How am I supposed to...?”
“You can do it.”
“No, I...”
Flustered, Hyun-soo struggled to respond to what felt like an impossibly difficult mission, her lips moving soundlessly.
“Alright. I’ll go see him first.”
She finally managed to reply, promising herself she’d give it a try.
Nodding, Guk checked his wristwatch. Clearly, he had another appointment.
“I have somewhere to be, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait, Yoon Guk!”
As Guk rose from his seat without hesitation, Hyun-soo called out to stop him. Pausing briefly, he glanced back at her. A subtle furrow formed between his brows. Did she just call my name?
“Oh, sorry. Um… Can I call you if I need to ask anything or...?”
“Do as you please.”
Without further explanation, Guk turned and walked away, leaving Hyun-soo staring after him. She murmured her gratitude softly.
“Thank you! I’ll contact you!”
As expected, there was no response or glance back from him.
When he exited the café and reappeared in the lobby, several people materialized behind him once again. So he really was the vice president. Their deference toward him confirmed it.
But wasn’t she treating him with similar caution? Regardless of his title, Yoon Guk himself exuded an aura that commanded respect. Even if he weren’t the vice president of this hotel, she doubted anyone could easily scold him—even as a regular office worker.
‘3803.’
Memorizing the number once more, Hyun-soo picked up the keycard and stood. In front of her sat the untouched glass of juice. Determined, she drained half of it in one go, fueling herself for the challenge ahead.
“Alright, let’s go. Let’s see what happens.”
Muttering encouragement to herself, Hyun-soo stepped forward with resolve. But as the elevator came into view, tension crept up on her despite her efforts. What could she do? The water had already spilled.
Clutching the keycard tightly, Hyun-soo hoped her courage wouldn’t falter.
“This is insane.”
Her muttering drew glances from others in the elevator. Realizing her slip, she offered an awkward smile.
After stopping a few times, Hyun-soo found herself alone in the elevator. Leaning against the wall, she gazed absentmindedly at her reflection in the doors. On her phone screen was an article she had been reading.
[HK Group’s 70th Anniversary: Quiet Year Without a Ceremony]
Why bring up HK Group? For Hyun-soo, it was crucial. The article included names and faces she recognized: Yoon Guk and Yoon Han.
[Last Year’s HK Group Founding Anniversary Event. Chairman Yoon Hwang and His Eldest Son.]
Below the photo, a caption explained: The stern-looking elder was Chairman Yoon Hwang, and beside him stood Guk, his son. How? And why?
This anniversary article surfaced when Hyun-soo searched for “Hotel Onyx Yoon Guk.” Among the related search terms, “HK Group” appeared prominently. Out of curiosity, she clicked it and read about the conglomerate.
HK Group: A massive enterprise spanning hotel chains, resorts both domestic and international, and advanced leisure sports sectors like equestrian clubs, yachting, and golf courses.
But so what? What did it mean?
Digging deeper, Hyun-soo eventually noticed something significant. The chairman of the group was named “Yoon Hwang,” and under the family category were listed “Yoon Guk” and “Yoon Han.”
Just to confirm, Hyun-soo searched for “Yoon Guk” separately. To her astonishment, a celebrity profile popped up. Everyone seemed to know him except her. Moreover, he wasn’t merely the vice president of Hotel Onyx—he was the eldest son of HK Group. Something about it unsettled her.
Scrolling through the results, she found numerous blog posts, forum threads, and articles. Blogs and community forums buzzed with personal questions, information sharing, rumors about actress scandals, tips on spotting him at Hotel Onyx, and requests for candid photos. It was as though he were a celebrity.
Ding-dong.
-38th floor. The doors are opening.
The elevator doors slid open, snapping Hyun-soo out of her thoughts. Straightening up, she stepped out and double-checked the keycard. 3803. She needed to find room 3803.
It didn’t take long; turning the corner, she immediately spotted the plaque for room 3803. Hyun-soo snapped back to reality. Whatever the issue, she had to persuade someone who had been away from home for two weeks to return. Physical confrontations might be easier than untangling emotions—it felt like reaching for the stars.
Standing in front of the door, Hyun-soo took a deep breath. She remembered Han’s clear, obedient voice saying “Yes, yes” politely. She wondered how he had grown since then.
After hesitating for a moment, her finger finally pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
Hyun-soo adjusted her clothes and moistened her dry lips with her tongue. She prepared a smile, ready to face whoever opened the door. But...
“...”
No answer. The silence was eerie. Was he asleep? Had he not heard the bell?
Pressing the button again, Hyun-soo waited.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
Silence stretched on. Standing patiently, she took a step closer, raising her hand to knock. Just then, a voice spoke from inside.
“What is it?”
“Uh... It’s me, Kim Hyun-soo...”
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